Western-Sydney not-for-profit, The Junction Works has opened a state-of-the-art day centre facility in Seven Hills.
The new facility can house 120 participants at a time and is an innovative shake-up of the traditional, small centre respite services that predominate in the industry.
It has a commercial kitchen and cafe for participants to learn life skills as well as open-plan areas and a special sensory room. The site is also co-located with allied health, providing participants access to support services such as speech and occupational therapy.
The new facility’s campus model will closely align with the NDIS ‘programs of support’ approach to support participants to reach their goals. These programs will evolve over time, guided by participants and aided by allies in the community and industry.
“We want to challenge traditional views that people with intellectual disabilities may struggle to meaningfully participate in the workforce and we don’t think that is the case,” CEO Benjamin Walsh said. “By developing tailored programs to support the learning of life-long skills, our participants will have the best opportunities to find meaningful employment in the future.”
Speaking at the opening, Communications Minister and Federal MP for Greenway Michelle Rowland said the North-Western Sydney area is growing rapidly, with some suburbs forecast to reach over 300 per cent growth by 2040. “Crucial infrastructure like this will help to support our residents with disability now and into the future and I look forward to seeing the things our NDIS participants achieve,” she said.
In a statement NDIS Minister Bill Shorten said: “The Junction Works ambition for Seven Hills, and those sites that are to follow, show how a thoughtful approach can unleash human potential in people with disability, so their passions and independence can help them reach their goals in life. I very much look forward to updates on the progress of this initiative and commend ‘The Junction Works’ on their vision.”
Caption: Communications Minister Michelle Rowland and The Junction Works CEO Benjamin Walsh